Earthquake in China

Published May 15, 2008 9:34 PM

As a working-class newspaper inside the United States, Workers World would like
to express its solidarity with the Chinese people and especially those in
southwest Sichuan province. These sisters and brothers have experienced a harsh
natural calamity that has already claimed the lives of 15,000 people as of May
15. The powerful earthquake, without warning, shook a vast area that is home to
tens of millions of people.

Natural calamities have a social and political component. The Chinese
government’s ability to minimize what are sure to be enormous casualties
will impact on the world scene. U.S. imperialism and the other imperialist
states lurk nearby like jackals seeking signs of weakness they can capitalize
on. Meanwhile, the Chinese, with Premier Wen Jiabao directing efforts in the
area, have already mobilized 130,000 troops, police and rescue workers in
Sichuan.

One alert: beware the role of the imperialist media. They look at a natural
calamity as an opportunity to weaken a country like China, which only 59 years
ago threw off its colonial shackles with a glorious social revolution. If force
can’t be used effectively, the corporate media will try lies. As we
follow the rescue efforts on the other side of the world, we’ll check all
reports against Chinese sources where possible.

Articles copyright 1995-2012 Workers World.
Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved.